Florida Fish and WIldlife Conservation CommissionNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Florida Fish and WIldlife Conservation CommissionSun, 17 Dec 2017 10:42:20 +0000Florida Fish and WIldlife Conservation Commissionhttp://wlrn.org
Kate SteinSeafood is a big part of South Florida’s culinary scene and its culture. Conch, snapper, mahi mahi, grouper, marlin and stone crab -- they have places in our hearts, as well as on our plates.What's 'Sustainable Seafood?' In South Florida, Chefs Say It's Not About Giving Up Fishhttp://wlrn.org/post/whats-sustainable-seafood-south-florida-chefs-say-its-not-about-giving-fish
101624 as http://wlrn.orgThu, 14 Dec 2017 22:49:00 +0000What's 'Sustainable Seafood?' In South Florida, Chefs Say It's Not About Giving Up FishSascha CordnerThe Executive Director of Florida’s wildlife agency is leaving. He’s the latest to step down from a top role at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.FWC Executive Director Latest To Leave Top Post At Florida's Wildlife Agencyhttp://wlrn.org/post/fwc-executive-director-latest-leave-top-post-floridas-wildlife-agency
100615 as http://wlrn.orgTue, 28 Nov 2017 13:33:52 +0000FWC Executive Director Latest To Leave Top Post At Florida's Wildlife AgencyThe News Service of FloridaNearly 1,500 vessels impacted by Hurricane Irma have been removed from state waters over the past month and a half, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.Irma-Damaged Boats Pulled Out Of State Waters http://wlrn.org/post/irma-damaged-boats-pulled-out-state-waters
99156 as http://wlrn.orgThu, 02 Nov 2017 23:36:40 +0000Irma-Damaged Boats Pulled Out Of State Waters Mark SchreinerAn outside review has determined that the drowning death of Snooty the Manatee could have been prevented. South Florida Museum CEO Brynne Anne Besio announced the findings Thursday in Bradenton after a review by animal welfare attorney James Gesualdi.Report Calls Death of Snooty the Manatee A Preventable Accidenthttp://wlrn.org/post/report-calls-death-snooty-manatee-preventable-accident
95479 as http://wlrn.orgMon, 04 Sep 2017 08:53:36 +0000Report Calls Death of Snooty the Manatee A Preventable AccidentNick EvansState wildlife officials say human-bear interactions are on the rise, and they’re trying to educate Floridians on ways to defuse those situations.FWC Boosting Bear Education With New Videoshttp://wlrn.org/post/fwc-boosting-bear-education-new-videos
95365 as http://wlrn.orgFri, 01 Sep 2017 11:32:37 +0000FWC Boosting Bear Education With New VideosPeter HadenShould Florida allow harvesting of goliath grouper? That is the question being discussed at 15 public workshops around the state. The mammoth fish can grow to the size of a grizzly bear. What’s not been big about goliath grouper are their numbers: Fisheries dwindled due to overfishing in the 80s. In 1990, harvest of goliath grouper was prohibited in Florida state waters and Gulf and South Atlantic federal waters. But, a recent federal stock assessment showed goliath groupers numbers on the rise South Florida waters. Currently the fish is catch-and-release only. Now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering opening a limited harvest of goliath grouper. And it wants input from the public. Anglers and divers filled a room at Palm Beach County’s Lantana Branch Library Monday for the first of the meetings. “If the science says it can handle a limited harvest without hurting the population, then we feel that there’s not a problem with going ahead,” said BrettState Officials Ask The Public: Should We Allow Harvesting of Goliath Grouper? http://wlrn.org/post/state-officials-ask-public-should-we-allow-harvesting-goliath-grouper
93425 as http://wlrn.orgTue, 01 Aug 2017 12:21:30 +0000State Officials Ask The Public: Should We Allow Harvesting of Goliath Grouper? Holly PretskyIt can be hard to avoid lawn mowers, bulldozers and curious dogs if you spend a lot of time in a hole in the ground. That's the habitat of the Florida burrowing owl , which as of January is officially classified as a threatened species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) held a meeting in Lauderhill on Thursday to get public input on how to create new development guidelines to protect the owls in light of their new status. "They're a really fun and interesting species to watch," said Craig Faulhaber, avian conservation coordinator with the FWC. "They're also becoming increasingly rare. And so that's ... part of the reason why their listing status changed to threatened." Faulhaber said previous meetings have been attended by environmental consultants, realtors, school representatives and others. Chris Reiss is a member of Project Perch , a group that builds artificial burrows for the owls. Reiss, who lives in Broward County, first became concerned about theFWC Asks For Public Input To Protect Florida Burrowing Owls http://wlrn.org/post/fwc-asks-public-input-protect-florida-burrowing-owls
91887 as http://wlrn.orgFri, 07 Jul 2017 14:04:32 +0000FWC Asks For Public Input To Protect Florida Burrowing Owls Nancy KlingenerUpdate July 6: The captured buck was euthanized Thursday morning, after an evaluation by a veterinarian, according to Keys refuge manager Dan Clark. The deer apparently had fractured a right rear leg in the ankle area. "To ease his pain and suffering, we had to go ahead and put the deer down this morning," Clark said. Two men are facing multiple felony charges after they were pulled over in the Lower Keys Sunday — and found to have three endangered Key deer "hog-tied" in their car, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. A Monroe County Sheriff's deputy saw the deer in the backseat and immediately called state and federal wildlife officers. The officers saw "two Key deer 'hog-tied' with twine in the back seat," Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Clayton Wagner wrote in the arrest affidavit. "They had wounds all over their body and head and were struggling to break free. Blood was soaked into the seats and deer hair was heavily scattered throughout,"Two Arrested In Key Deer Kidnap Casehttp://wlrn.org/post/two-arrested-key-deer-kidnap-case
91650 as http://wlrn.orgMon, 03 Jul 2017 17:37:37 +0000Two Arrested In Key Deer Kidnap CaseJocelyn BeeverLast year was one of the deadliest for the Florida panther. Wildlife experts say there will likely not be as many fatalities this year, but Florida drivers should still take several precautions.Despite Florida Panther Fatalities, Experts Say Their Population Will Growhttp://wlrn.org/post/despite-florida-panther-fatalities-experts-say-their-population-will-grow
91159 as http://wlrn.orgSun, 25 Jun 2017 12:02:47 +0000Despite Florida Panther Fatalities, Experts Say Their Population Will GrowJocelyn BeeverThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants the public to report all fish kills this summer, when high temperatures and hurricanes threaten Florida’s marine and freshwater wildlife.FWC Asks The Public To Report Fish Killshttp://wlrn.org/post/fwc-asks-public-report-fish-kills
90900 as http://wlrn.orgWed, 21 Jun 2017 01:55:52 +0000FWC Asks The Public To Report Fish KillsCrystal ChavezOrlando topped the number of nuisance alligator complaints last year, according to data from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. Across Florida, 12,772 nuisance gator complaints came in leading to the death of more than 8,000 gators in 2016. That’s a higher number than the previous five years but not unprecedented. More than 230 nuisance gator complaints were made in Orlando. Ron Ziemba traps gators for FWC in Osceola County and thinks he may know why Orlando topped the list. “You know what it is, it’s more populated as far as people go to bodies of water so the more people you have, the more gator sightings you’re going to have, the more times people are going to call in,” said Ziemba. Ziemba said the point of the program is to remove gators showing signs of aggression or of being fed. He said too often people complain about gators that aren’t doing more than sitting on a bank. He has a message for snowbirds, tourists, and peopleOrlando leads in "Nuisance Gator" Complaints in Floridahttp://wlrn.org/post/orlando-leads-nuisance-gator-complaints-florida
88662 as http://wlrn.orgWed, 17 May 2017 11:04:25 +0000Orlando leads in "Nuisance Gator" Complaints in FloridaAmy GreenIt will be 2019 before Florida holds another bear hunt. That’s how the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted Wednesday. The state agency agreed instead to re-examine the state’s bear management plan over the next two years. "A hunt is consuming. It is consuming to this agency all the way around. And the benefit that we get with this species at this moment at this time, I don’t know if it’s worth the consumption that our team is going to go through," said Brian Yablonski, the commission’s chairman. Commissioners considered hours of public testimony. It was mixed. Some argued against bending to a survey showing some 43 percent of Floridians oppose bear hunting. “We know the science supports a bear hunt. Thirty-one states in this country have a bear hunt," said Newton Cook is executive director of the United Waterfowlers of Florida. "And what do you do? The culture. If you believe that, that number will change from 43 percent in the next year, two years, three years,No More Bear Hunt In Florida Until 2019http://wlrn.org/post/no-more-bear-hunt-florida-until-2019
86929 as http://wlrn.orgThu, 20 Apr 2017 12:00:00 +0000No More Bear Hunt In Florida Until 2019Jim AshWildlife managers are hoping the proliferation of cell phone cameras will translate to better protections for the endangered Florida panther.FWC On The Prowl For Panther Photos http://wlrn.org/post/fwc-prowl-panther-photos
82291 as http://wlrn.orgFri, 03 Feb 2017 13:46:21 +0000FWC On The Prowl For Panther Photos editorFlorida wildlife authorities approved new protected areas Wednesday for some of the state’s most iconic and imperiled bird species.13 New Critical Wildlife Areas Approved By FWChttp://wlrn.org/post/13-new-critical-wildlife-areas-approved-fwc
77695 as http://wlrn.orgThu, 17 Nov 2016 13:33:00 +000013 New Critical Wildlife Areas Approved By FWCMichal KranzTropical wildlife is a part of the landscape here in South Florida, but what happens when a certain nonnative bird makes a home for itself in a residential neighborhood? That is the case in Coconut Grove, where peacocks have become a problem not just for residents but also for county commissioners, who are trying to find ways to relocate the birds without violating local laws. Residents in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables say the peacocks have always been there, but recently their numbers have skyrocketed, leading to their becoming a nuisance. One resident, Randy Lakel, says he does not mind the peacocks. "Grandkids like them; they're pretty," He said. "There's a lot of them." However, people like Maribel Rodriguez do not share his view. "When they open up their mouths you want to kill them," she said. She’s not alone. J.C. Garrido is an aide to County Commissioner Xavier Suarez. He says he receives numerous calls from constituents complaining about the birds disrupting traffic, diggingLawmakers and Residents Continue to Wrestle with Peacock Problem in Coconut Grovehttp://wlrn.org/post/lawmakers-and-residents-continue-wrestle-peacock-problem-coconut-grove
71368 as http://wlrn.orgMon, 18 Jul 2016 20:05:05 +0000Lawmakers and Residents Continue to Wrestle with Peacock Problem in Coconut GroveCaitie SwitalskiIf you are enjoying a summer day in your boat on Biscayne Bay, you better think twice before reaching for that beer. Operation Dry Water is in full swing. Officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are patrolling the waters on this weekend before the Fourth of July holiday to make sure there is no boat driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Officer Lorenzo Velloz was pulling over boaters Friday morning for a routine safety check off Key Biscayne. Velloz said Florida had 11 alcohol and drug related fatalities on the water last year. “Unfortunately, boats do not have crumple zones and do not crumple on impact," Velloz said. "It’s a straight blunt force and that’s why boating accidents are more severe than actually automobile accidents. ” Boater Jay Rivera was driving his vessel with friends. He passed the safety check, and said the FWC’s increased safety measures are not a hassle for boaters, but rather, they are important for everyone during'Operation Dry Water' Cracks Down On Drunken Boating This Weekendhttp://wlrn.org/post/operation-dry-water-cracks-down-drunken-boating-weekend
70162 as http://wlrn.orgSat, 25 Jun 2016 16:54:49 +0000'Operation Dry Water' Cracks Down On Drunken Boating This WeekendNancy KlingenerFifty-seven species of fish and wildlife are so rare or face such threats that they are considered "imperiled" by the state of Florida . Now the state has 49 action plans aimed at protecting those species. Some, like several species of wading birds , share the same habitat so they're covered under the same plan. One plan calls for stabilizing shorelines and removing exotic plants to provide nesting areas for brown pelicans. Another would set up trapping and testing programs to evaluate the population of the Homosassa shrew, a small rodent. The state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants input from the public on the plans, which are set for final approval next year. The action plans hold particular significance for the Florida Keys. The relatively small county is home to 23 of the 57 imperiled species.State Plans Aim To Protect Imperiled Specieshttp://wlrn.org/post/state-plans-aim-protect-imperiled-species
59900 as http://wlrn.orgMon, 23 Nov 2015 21:36:04 +0000State Plans Aim To Protect Imperiled SpeciesAmy GreenIt’s been 20 years since Florida’s last bear hunt, and environmentalists opposed to the hunt are seeking volunteers to monitor hunters, to make sure everything is being done by the books. Speak Up Wekiva is seeking volunteers to photograph vehicle license plates of hunters to ensure those hunters are permitted to participate.Environmentalists Seek Volunteers To Help Monitor Florida Bear Hunthttp://wlrn.org/post/environmentalists-seek-volunteers-help-monitor-florida-bear-hunt
57461 as http://wlrn.orgTue, 06 Oct 2015 21:09:10 +0000Environmentalists Seek Volunteers To Help Monitor Florida Bear HuntAmy GreenA judge has ruled Florida's first bear hunt in two decades may proceed later this month.The judge ruled against environmentalists who argue the hunt will damage the population of the animal that was removed from the state's threatened list in 2012. Judge George Reynolds' decision came after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission appeared to shift its stance on a rule environmentalists had complained about. Representatives of the state agency testified its executive director can end the hunt after the first day if its goal of 320 slain bears is met. Reynolds was satisfied.Judge Affirms Florida Bear Hunthttp://wlrn.org/post/judge-affirms-florida-bear-hunt
57283 as http://wlrn.orgFri, 02 Oct 2015 19:24:50 +0000Judge Affirms Florida Bear HuntAssociated PressWildlife officials have approved the killing of 320 black bears next month during the state’s first bear hunting season in more than 20 years.FL Wildlife Officials Limit Bears Hunters Can Kill To 320http://wlrn.org/post/fl-wildlife-officials-limit-bears-hunters-can-kill-320
55718 as http://wlrn.orgThu, 03 Sep 2015 15:11:46 +0000FL Wildlife Officials Limit Bears Hunters Can Kill To 320